Clarkston Chamber eNews Connection
January 19, 2010
Welcome to the Electronic Newsletter of the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce
www.clarkston.org
5856 S. Main St.
Clarkston, MI 48346
248-625-8055
| From the President |
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Chamber President Johnna Struck Changing Places Moving & Services |
On your mark get set go… Happy New Year! It’s not too late… If you haven’t put together a business plan or budget there is still time. Make it . . . .MORE |
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Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce
248-625-8055 www.clarkston.org
Take 5 (Five Fast Facts)
1. Sheriff Mike Bouchard is our guest speaker at the January 21 Luncheon Mixer at Outback Steakhouse. There's still time to get your reservation in for this informative networking event!
2. Luncheon Mixers utilize a "Rolling Jackpot" opportunity for you to win. Must be present to win, if your name is drawn. JACKPOT total for January is $100!
3. Social Media is the 2010 version of guerilla marketing. It's about relationships. It's low cost. It helps you connect with your ideal client base and your competition may not know how to use it yet. Get the edge on your competition by learning Twitter, Linked In and tips for effective websites. Social Media Bootcamp--Friday Jan 22
Did you know that our presenters: Jason T. Ryan and David Benjamin were recently contracted to do the Twitter account for the NFL and Ticketmaster to sell tickets for Super Bowl XLIV?
4. Palace Sports & Entertainment EXCLUSIVE CHAMBER networking event in the North Tower Jan 29, 2010 Exclusive Chamber Offer
5. Dean Dan Izydorek has called a special Winter Session for Beer University! SAVE THE DATE Weds Feb 10, 2010 at Hamlin Pub 5:00-8:30. We'll be researching Winter Lagers. Save your seat at the Bar Alumni ticket price is just $25 per person (through Feb 5) LIMIT 10 tickets per alumni. CALL to order your tickets today! 248-625-8055. You are an alumni if you've ever attended a Clarkston Chamber Beer University event in the past (we keep your transcripts on record).
Upcoming Networking events
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Luncheon Mixer January 21, 2010 11:45-1 pm
Outback Steakhouse SPEAKER Sheriff Mike Bouchard
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$25 per person at the door. MEMBERS save $5 on registration when you sign up and pay in advance. ($20 per person). MENU: Steak or Chicken or Salmon |
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Social Media Bootcamp TWITTER, Websites and LinkedIn January 22, 2010 8:15-Noon Knights of Columbus |
$25 Twitter Session 8:15 $25 Websites Session 9:45 $25 LinkedIn Session 11:00 OR sign up for all 3 workshops for just $35 |
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Women in Business Resolve This! Shake off the Recession Blues and Jump Start 2010 with a New Attitude Thursday, January 28 10:45-1:00 pm
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$50 per person Includes LUNCHEON MEMBERS pay just $30 when you sign up and pay in advance.
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Women in Business (Not just for women, but designed especially for women business leaders) Sponsored by
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PRESENTER:
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS GIVE BACK: Bring donations of business clothes (cleaned & on hangers) to help women get back in the workforce. Collected clothing will be donated to Lighthouse's Career Closet. |
MEMBERS: When you donate a career outfit, you earn a coupon good towards $25 off an Advertising Advantage OR $25 off Chamber website advertising. Earn a coupon for EACH of your donations! |
CONGRATULATIONS
Four Seasons Chem-Dry Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award
Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service
Four Seasons ChemDry has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Angie’s List Super Service Award!
The Super Service Award, now celebrating its 11th year, is reserved for companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie's List – the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies – throughout the past year. Fewer than 5 percent of the companies on Angie's List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for the award.
“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing the best customer service,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.
Four Seasons Chem-Dry is owned and operated by Goy & Tammy Ullyart. “The award is very exciting for us. We are consistently trying to provide the best customer service experience ever and the team at Four Seasons Chem-Dry deserves the credit for this award”, says Tammy Ullyart. Four Seasons Chem-Dry provides cleaning services of carpet, upholstery, oriental rugs, leather, tile/stone and water damage restoration. Their services are available in Oakland, Genesee & North Western Wayne counties. To find out more about Four Seasons ChemDry, visit their website at www.PristineCarpets.com.
Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have maintained a total and overall grade of "A;" have received a minimum number of reports; are NOT in the Angie's List "Penalty Box” and do NOT have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2009 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.
Angie’s List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 500 different categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information about Angie’s List at http://www.angieslist.com View the latest Angie's List News Releases in our Press Center and read Angie’s blog at http://www.angiehicksblog.com.
Contributor's Corner
Teams and the Workplace The beginning of the year is a good time to look at the teams within your workplace. Are they performing at their highest level? Are there communication issues? Do they understand their goals? Do they understand one another? Teams can be comprised of varying amounts of people. Each workplace is different however; there are team fundamentals that can be helpful with any team. There are six areas within teams I would like to share with you. They are:
There are other areas that will help teams but those listed above are often the ones that are the most difficult. Let’s look at a couple of ideas to help at the very beginning with your teams. People are put into teams for various reasons and it’s important to understand a little about one another to accomplish the tasks ahead of them. Each person is bringing their own uniqueness to the team. If the team members aren’t given the opportunity to learn about one another this could cause problems. It is important that introductions take place and if possible you could have the team members share something about themselves with one another. The simple exercise of learning something about your team member will help to create a level of comfort among the members of the team. Another task to do with your teams in the beginning is to establish team norms. These are guidelines for the members to follow with one another. These norms should describe what is acceptable for the team. This may be around meetings, communication, respect, etc. Depending on your business you may have team norms already established when a new team member arrives at work. It would be helpful to review these norms with the new team members and seek their input. By establishing team norms this allows team members to have some ownership in how they behave with one another. There are various ways to do introduction exercises and establish team norms. What is listed above is the minimum that should be done for the employees to start to feel comfortable with the team environment. It is the beginning of the year and a great time to start out right with your teams. Even if you have never done this in the past you can start a best practice for this year. Make 2010 a year of successful teams in your workplace. |
If you would like further information on team beginnings and how to make them more successful, contact Candice Reyes at PRO HR Consulting (248) 563-0338 or creyes@prohrconsulting.com
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Chamber and Community CALENDAR Events
January 21 2010 BLOOD DRIVE at Lafontaine Automotive Group. 11:00am to 5:00pm www.givelife.org
January 23, 2010 NOHLC Annual Meeting Presentation on Wonderous Wilderness: Tramping in New Zealand
explaining with outstanding photography – why this South Pacific country is such a paradise for hikers and backpackers SEE FLYER
RESOURCES
- SOCIAL MEDIA BOOTCAMP January 22 2010 Twitter, Websites and Linked In FLYER SOCIAL MEDIA
- Quickbooks online training and live event schedule--Kildal Services LLC
- Hallmann Advisors offers Tax Preparation discount to Chamber members
- January 20, 2010 – SCORE’s “Understanding the Language of Accounting”
As part of their series of workshops for small business, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 presents “Understanding the Language of Accounting”. One of the important prerequisites to running a successful business is to understand and control finances. This workshop compares financial statements for two businesses to show how to create and monitor an effective financial strategy. From 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 20 at MBPA Hoover Business Center, 27700 Hoover Rd. in Warren. $55. Call 313-226-7947 to register.
- JAN21, 2010 9:00-Noon Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan
This is a workshop for small business owners who are developing a plan to serve as their road map to success. The class is held on Thursday, January 21, from 9:00 a.m. - noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. The fee is $40, which includes all materials. No refunds.www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.
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JAN 26, 2010 9:00-Noon Legal & Financial Basics for Small Business
This workshop covers many of the key legal and financial issues faced by both new and existing small businesses in Michigan. The program initially focuses on the many management and liability concerns faced by entrepreneurs, as well as today's tax consequences. The program also provides solutions and techniques for business concession and individual investment and retirement planning. Presented by Carter & Affiliates, P.C. Tuesday, January 26, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.
- January 27, 2010 – SCORE Presents “Write a Successful Business Plan”
In one of their series of workshops for small business, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 shows potential entrepreneurs “How to Write a Successful Business Plan”. Attendees learn what is required for their business plan with examples and templates for the marketing, management and financial sections. From 8:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 27 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Rd. in Southfield. $45. Call 313-226-7947 to register.
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JAN 28 9:00-Noon Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business
Marketing is an essential of business success. All products/services must be sold to well-targeted audiences with a wide-ranging marketing mix. Our staff/SCORE counselors can guide you through successful techniques and marketing principles helping you to promote your products and services to the most promising customers-your target audience. Presented by The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC). Thursday, January 28 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. The fee is $40 (make check payable to E.M.U.), which includes all materials. No refunds. www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.
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| Did you know that SCORE is standing ready to help with your business needs? See FLYER |
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